§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the present situation about licences and prospecting for oil in the Minches and off the West coast of the Western Isles.
62W
§ Dr. J. Dickson MabonFive blocks to the north of the Minches are presently held under petroleum production licences awarded in the fourth round of licensing. In addition, the conditional award of a licence was announced earlier this year for four blocks south-west of the Hebrides. All other blocks in the areas are available to holders of non-exclusive exploration licences. Seismic surveys, including one recently in the Minches themselves, have been carried out but there has been no drilling as yet.